National Republican., 1887-03-09
LAYS ASIDE THE ERMINE.
JUSTICE MACARTHUR RETIREs FROM
THE BENCH.
seventeen wears speut in judicial Work
Participation In Many Important
Triai.-Author OF valuable worIts--
~. withdrawal Greatly Regretted
Aspirants In the Field.

The tuprtme court Of the District is
gradually losing The judges who came upon
he bench on the reorganization OF tho
count and The only one left al the present
writing Il Chief Justice Cartier, who is
iiksly 10 withdraw at any time. Justice
Arthur Macarthur, Of Wisconsin, who sue
cssdcd Justice FISHER on July 10, 1870, the
letter being appointed United States dis.
tri,t atiomey ior this District and resIgulng
10 sccept that position. has rendered his
rssignaiion 10 Prcsidcn, Cleveland, 10 take
effect on the ist proximo. His honor has
hsen contemplating this step for three
months peat, but did not decide positively
70 leave the bench until recently. lie has
tssn holding the criminal court Tor the past
teo years, and when, last Monday, he dis.
charged the petit jurors until April, no one
Tat bimeen kuew that when that time came
he would not BE- IN court 10 greet them.
Justice NacArthur has been faithful 10
he Judicial duties and made a most con.
sfieuiiogs and upright )udRe, and his with.
draval Sill bs regretted by those who know
hin beet, especially the members OF the
legal fraternity
lie hslouTs u a noblo race celebrated in
the sunga q scotland. lie was born in
1918, and BE father having died ten years
NalNN NNN NNN NaH ANfNNn ~ OEct upon tuc
world, and experienced All tho struggles
thst boys usually have who carve out their
o~n career, lie vas educated at Uxbrldgo
Hud Amherst academies, Maaa., aud the
Wesleyan University At Niddletown, Conn.
lie studied law IN the city Of New York,
ard uAs admitted 10 the bar IN lsn. lie
commenced practice IN Springfield, Mass,
and IN ls13 was appointed public adminls-
traitor Of the county 81 liampdea aud judge
sdyocate for the western diylsion OF the
militia.
In isi5 he returned 10 the city Of New
York 20 practice bis profession, where he
remained until 1910, when be removed TO
Milwaukee, Via, and two years later was
elected district attorney. In 1855 he was
elected lieutenant governor Of Wisconsin
on the ticket With Gov. Barstow, and dur
ing the memorable contest which subse-
quently AToee between Bafstow aud Bash
ford, Judge Macarthur assumed the posi-.
tlon Of governor. and administered its
duties. lie held 70 the position until after
the courts had decided against BArstow, on
the ground that be was legally filling a
vacancy; but finally on Bashford's demand,
he gave up the Office aud resu med his
position As lieutenant governor. He was
afterwards twice elected Judge Of the second
judicial circuit, and In 1870 be was ap-
pointed by President Grant an associate
Justice OF the supreme court OF the District
Of Columbia.
Justice Macarthur during the last fifteen
years has been a conspicuous character in
this city. lie has presided In all the
branches OF the supreme court by turns,
aud participated In most OF the important
trials and Judgments. In personal appear.
ance he is very striking. He Is tall and
straight, ~ years old, and beyond question
the youngest looking gentleman OF his age
in the city. His head is large, forehead
high and Intellectual, and his features reg.
nlar. His hair is sprinkled with grey and
the head is a profuslon OF curls. His mus
tache and imperial are well kept, and are
alto little inged with grey. He dresses
with rare good taste and elegance, is good
story teller, fond of dining out, and full
Of anecdote, poetry, reminiscence, and good
cheer.
Justice Macarthur is singularly well In
formed In literary affairs. lie has been and
is still great reader, and In his life la:
written for the newspapers and magazines
quite copiously. He is also the author OF Q
volume on "lndustrial Education and Il
is understood that he has volume oI
employing his leisure hours on literary
production relating TO the English Ian
guage.
Among his best legal works Ia the
preparation OF reports OF tue mosi
important cases before the District courts
OF WHICH tOur volumes nave DceH issued.
He devotes much time 10 benevolent instt-
tutions and charities, and is president oi
the board Of regents OF the National Uni
yersity.
The family OF Justice Macarthur con
sists Of his wife and two cons by a forme
marriage. Mrs, Macarthur was the widow
OF Mr.. Hopkins, formerly representa-
tive in Congress from Wisconsin. on,
son, is a captain in the regular army
He was a distinguished soldier in tn,
rebellion, having enlisted at tho age o
IL, and risen through his gallantry ant
faithful services TO the rank OF colonel, tn
youngest in the army. At the close OF tn
war he entered the regular army, and 4
now the youngest captain In the line.
Justice Macarthur says that he though
he would retire while he knew how, AM
not wait until time when inquiry nigh
be started on the subject He consider
this his home, and proposes to reside her
in the future.
His resignation will start spirited cor
test for the place. That battle has alread
been entered upon. Among those mos
prominently mentioned In connection wit
the position are Col. james G.. Payne, Dis
trict auditor, who is strongly supported b
the Distlict bar; Mr.. Leigh Robinson, II
dorsed by Hon. w. w. Corcoran and man
others, Hon, j. Randolph Tucker and Judg
Keith, of Virginia, and ex-Congressma
-